Joburg motor show cancelled

The SADC region’s premier auto show, the Johannesburg International Motor Show, has been called off according to a statement by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

“The Johannesburg International Motor Show, originally scheduled to be held at the Expo Centre from 14th October, 2015 through 27th October, 2015 will not take place” the association said in a statement released this week. This follows a decision by NAAMSA Chief Executives at a meeting in Johannesburg on 16th April, 2015. “The costs of automotive exhibitions have risen disproportionately and this has called into question the return on investment for exhibitors. Internationally, in recent years, concerns about affordability and return on investment for exhibitors have led to the cancellation of automotive exhibitions in a number of countries. Additional considerations in the decision not to proceed with this years’ show include the fact that the event scheduled for October 2015 clashes with the Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom and the E-mobility month in Sandton over that time. Moreover, the economic and financial climate in South Africa currently has impacted on trading conditions in the automotive sector and has resulted in substantial pressure on margins throughout the automotive value chain.”“The possibility of a show in 2016 will be considered by the end of June this year. South African Shows Messe Frankfurt, the show management company, in consultation with the industry’s marketing and sales experts, have been tasked to formulate proposals and a strategic action plan to enhance the value proposition for exhibitors and to increase substantially the return on investment for participants.”